Pages

Saturday, August 23, 2014

Oregon Incident Management
Team #2 is transferring command of the fire to a local fire management
organization Sunday at 6am.

Yesterday

Some
interior burning continues to fill in unburned islands well inside control lines
on the north side, tying the fire into the old Thorn Creek burn, where forest
vegetation and litter is light.Fire
suppression repair continued on the northeast to southeast perimeter.Aerial reconnaissance was used to patrol
the perimeter and monitor fire behavior.

Weather and Fire Behavior

Afternoon
cloud build up is predicted again today. There is a potential for isolated showers.Temperatures are expected to be in the upper
50’s on the ridges and 70’s in the valleys. Erratic and gusty winds could cause flare
ups.Fire behavior includes isolated
surface spread and sustained smoldering.

Today’s Operations

The
northwest and eastern flanks are in mop-up status.Other areas around the perimeter are being
patrolled and suppression repair is progressing.Aerial reconnaissance will patrol and
monitor fire behavior.

Closures

The
public is advised to travel slowly
through these areas and be aware of the possibility of falling trees weakened
from fire, rolling rocks and fire traffic.

Note - Forest Rd. 21 is
closed between the NF boundary on the north and the junction of Rd. 2108.

·Malheur National Forest:The following
area is open:County Road 42;Forest Road 24;Forest Road 2180 from its
intersection with Forest Road 24 continuing N/NW to the intersection with
Forest Road 21.Lands east of Forest
Road 21 north to the forest boundary (this portion of FR 21 is closed).The portion of FR21 from its intersection
with FR2180 east to its terminus with county road 63 is open.

·Grant County Sheriff’s Office:The level 1
evacuation is lifted for the area bounded by the 2150 road on the south, the
21 road on the east, Highway 26 on the north and on the west by a line
running due north from the Aldrich Lookout to Highway 26.

Thursday, August 21, 2014

Fire crews
checked lines on the northwest corner from the Aldrich Ridge to the South
Fork of the John Day River for any residual heat and extinguished it. On the
northeast side crews strengthened the line with hand ignition along the 2150
road and down to the Thorn Creek burn scar.

The
southeast and south sides of the fire continue in a patrol and suppression
repair status.

Aviation
resources continued to support suppression efforts with bucket drops to cool
hotspots along the line and on interior flare-ups, and patrol the west side.

One new
fire start was discovered on the southeast side outside the fire lines and
was quickly extinguished.

Weather and Fire Behavior

Upper
level moisture moving down the east side of the North Pacific Ridge will lead
to occasional patches of cirrus clouds over the region on Friday. Low
relative humidity values will continue despite slightly cooler temperatures.
Winds are expected to be out of the northwest.

Today’s Operations

Emphasis
will be to continue containment efforts on the northeastern perimeter of the
fire, south of Dayville. Crews will continue mop-up and fire suppression
repair on the southeastern and northwestern perimeter. The west side of the
fire will continue to be patrolled by air.

Aerial
ignitionis planned for the north side
to increase depth in the line if fire behavior conditions are favorable.

Crews will continue
to be available for additional initial attack on new starts from lightning.

Closures and Evacuations

Agency
administrators and the fire team are finalizing plans to reduce the closure
areas and evacuation levels on the South Fork Complex.

A Level 1
evacuation remains in effect for the area bounded by the 2150 road on the
south, the 21 road on the east, Highway 26 on the north and on the west by a
line running due north from the Aldrich Lookout to Highway 26.

A closure
is in place on the Malheur National Forest, the Ochoco National Forest and
BLM and private lands surrounding the fires. All roads and trails are closed
within the closure area. Closure information is available online at
inciweb.nwcg.gov.